Lincoln, Neb.--The Glenn Korff School of Music’s UNL Jazz Singers, with special guests Elkhorn North High School’s vocal jazz choir “ENsync,” will perform on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Westbrook Music Building’s Performance Hall in Rm. 130. The concert is free and open to the public.
The Jazz Singers are under the direction of Glenn Korff School of Music Lecturer David von Kampen. Elkhorn North High School’s “ENsync” is under the direction of Glenn Korff School of Music and Jazz Singers alumna Casey Allen (B.M.E. 2020).
“This will be the fourth time we’ve had Casey’s vocal jazz choir join us on campus, and we’ve been up to perform at their school before, too,” von Kampen said. “A really special connection has developed between Jazz Singers and Elkhorn. They’re one of the very best high school ensembles in the state. Of course, their director Casey Allen is a Jazz Singers alum, so we’re thrilled that she continues to help spread vocal jazz to her school and the larger Nebraska community.”
Von Kampen said the Jazz Singers have had a busy, but meaningful, semester.
“It’s been such a busy, special semester—after welcoming Michael Mayo to campus back in September, and then performing with the Jazz Orchestra last month, it’s been nice for the group to be able to turn back inward a little bit now,” he said. “We love to collaborate, but I always love to let this group loose on music that’s just for them and watch them make it their own.”
The program will begin with “ENsync” performing “Esperanto” by Vince Mendoza and Kurt Elling, arranged by Kerry Marsh; “Moonlight in Vermont” by Blackburn/Suessdorf, arranged by Darmon Meader; and “The Christmas Song” by Mel Torme and Robert Wells, arranged by Russell Robinson.
In the second half of the program, the UNL Jazz Singers will perform “Sleepin’ Bee” by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote, arranged by Vijay Singh; “You/Yours” by Michael League and Bill Laurance, arranged by von Kampen; “How You Loved Me on Mars” by Kathleen Grace and Josh Nelson, arranged by Zach Yoholkovsky; and “Snowbound” by Dave Frishberg, arranged by von Kampen.
Von Kampen said he is excited for the group’s first concert in the new Performance Hall in Westbrook Music Building.
“It’s a beautiful space, and I can’t wait to hear how the group sounds in there,” he said. “This concert will feature some brand new arrangements, like always, and I’m excited to program music by two arrangers I really love—Zach Yaholkovsky and Vijay Singh.”
Von Kampen noted that this is also the last chance to hear this rendition of the Jazz Singers.
“We’ll have several people leaving the group for graduation or student teaching at the end of this semester, so I hope there’s a great crowd to send them off in style,” he said.
